Toolbox with pivoted tray section



Feb. 17, 1953 B. GQRKISH 2,623,752

TOOLBOX WITH PIVOTED TRAY SECTION Fild May 51} 1951 Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES Arum OFFICE TOOLBOX WITH PIVO'IED TRAY SECTION 7 Richard B. Corkish, Nantucket, Mass.

Application May 31, 1951, Serial No. 229,056

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to tool box construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a tool box comprising a plurality of superimposed tool trays pivotally connected at points intermediate the ends thereof, so that the trays may be turned to positions with respect to each other allowing easy and ready access to the contents of the trays.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tool box of this character in which tools may be conveniently carried in such a way that the necessity of removing the major portion of tools from the tool box in order to select a particular tool that may be at the bottom of the usual deep tool box. is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivot post common to all of the trays of the tool box eliminating a plurality of independent supports for the trays, thereby reducing the weight of the box to a minimum.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combined carrier and locking means in the form of a pivoted handle designed to cooperate with cleats secured to the ends of the trays, in securing the trays against accidental movement with respect to each other as the tool box is being carried.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tool box constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the tool box.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the tool box taken at right angles to Fig. l, illustrating the locking handle swung downwardly and one tray moved to gain access to the contents thereof, in dotted lines.

7 Referring to the drawing in detail, the tool box embodies a plurality of superimposed tray sec tions indicated by the reference character 5 which are mounted for rotation or pivotal movement on the center post 3 which is secured to the bottom of the lowermost section 5, by means of the socket member I which is secured at a point centrally of the bottom.

The adjacent upper sections are provided with 2 bearings 8 that are disposed centrally of the sections or trays, and are held in position by means of the bolts 9, the bearings 8 being in alignment with openings formed in the bottoms of the adja cent trays, so that the center post will extend therethrough.

With this construction, it will be seen that the adjacent upper tray sections provide covers for the adjacent lower tray sections, the uppermost tray section being closed by means of the pivoted closure it]. This closure It) is pivotally mounted. on the bolt 55 that extends through the bar I! secured between the sides of the uppermost tray 5, the upper surface of said bar I! being flush with the upper edge of the upper tray.

The tool box is carried by the handle I I which includes bars l2 that are pivotally connected to the ends of the lowermost tray section, by means of the bolts l3, the bars l2 being of lengths to extend substantial distances above the uppermost tray section, providing a clearance so that a person may grip the handle I i to carry the tool box.

Cleats indicated. by the reference character 14 are secured to the ends of the tray sections above the bottom section, and have open sides permitting the bars [2 to slide into position directly under the cleats to hold the bars l2 in their proper supporting positions,

Sliding bolts 15 are secured to the removable closure It adjacent to the ends thereof, the sliding bolts being flat and movable into openings formed in the bars l2 to receive said sliding bolts, the sliding bolts acting to prevent movement of the bars I2 when the sections or trays of the tool box have been moved to their closed positions.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a tool box wherein the body portion of the tool box is divided into a plurality of pivoted tray sections, the tray sectionsbeing designed to receive tools and various articles necessary for mechanics.

With this structure it is possible to swing the handle it downwardly permitting free pivotal movement of the sections, which sections or trays divide the tool box so that it is unnecessary to remove a number of tools in order to locate a tool which may be at the bottom of a tool box, as is customary with tool boxes now in common use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a tool box, a plurality of superimposed tray sections, a handle by means of which said tray sections are supported, said handle including end bars pivotally connected to the ends of the lowermost tray section, said bars overlying the ends of adjacent upper tray sections, open ended cleats secured to the ends of the tray sections, the open sides of the cleats being disposed in the same direction, said end bars of the handle adapted to move into the open ends of the cleats, securing the trays against movement in one direction, a closure closing the uppermost tray, and sliding bolts mounted on the closure adjacent to the ends thereof, said bars having openings into which said sliding bolts move when the end bars and handle are elevated to a carrying position, thereby locking the handle in its carrying position.

RICHARD B. CORKISH.

4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 547,552 Keegan Oct. 8, 1895 1,383,259 Jordan June 28, 1921 1,684,637 Myers et a1 Sept. 18, 1928 10 2,558,955 Helton July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 220,889 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1942 

